Suction cup holder

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an attachment system for a suction cup and a fixture, including a resilient suction cup and a wire fixture. This attachment means quickly and securely attaches the suction cup to the fixture, enabling the fixture, when secured to a smooth surface by the suction cups, to hold heavy objects.  
     A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a pair of parallel, horizontal rigid wires separated by a distance smaller than the head of a resilient suction cup but larger than the neck of the cup. The head of the cup is compressed to fit it between the pair of wires, which hold the neck and the entire suction cup in place. A pair of transverse wires intersecting the horizontal wires limit the horizontal movement of the cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an attachment system for attaching asuction cup and a fixture, and it more particularly relates to anattachment system for attaching a suction cup made from a resilientmaterial such as plastic or rubber to a fixture made from metal or othermaterial.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Suction cups attached to fixtures enabling the fixtures to beattached to smooth surfaces are well known in the art and widely used.Such suction cups could be attached to fixtures such as wire baskets,plastic baskets, garbage bag holders, wire or plastic shelves, soapdishes, soap holders, scouring pad holders, bottle holders, eyeglassholders, glare shields, support lights, plastic cups or cup dispensers,bathroom accessories such as toothbrush holders and razor holders, wireframe shower hangers, shower seats, shower personal hygiene supportsystems, a shower caddy, corner mounted trays and the like. There arevarious means known in the art for incorporating suctions cups withfixtures. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,543, various locking devices forsupporting suction cups or holding them in place are disclosed. U.S.Pat. No. 5,862,816 shows a razor holder having slots with a rounded endwhich slips over the neck of a suction cup while U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,337shows a wire form product with open loops for holding the necks ofsuction cups, as does the eyeglass holder in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,829.The bottle holder of U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,046 uses metal wires to engagethe suction cups. One problem with many of these fixtures and theirattached suction cups is that the suction cups are difficult to attachsecurely to the fixture. Another problem is that, after the suction cupis attached to the fixture, the resulting apparatus is difficult topackage and ship. Often, however, the attachment system is complicatedto manufacture, particularly in an efficient and practical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachmentsystem for a suction cup and a fixture.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide anattachment system for a resilient suction cup and a wire fixture.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provideattachment means for quickly and securely attaching the suction cup tothe fixture.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide anattachment system for a resilient suction cup and a fixture such thatthe attachment is inexpensive to manufacture, easy and economical toproduce and assemble and attractive in appearance.

[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide anattachment system for a suction cup and a fixture such that theresulting attachment is strong, enabling the fixture, when secured to asmooth surface by the suction cups, to hold heavy objects.

[0010] Other objects will be apparent from the description to follow andfrom the appended claims.

[0011] The foregoing objects are achieved according to a preferredembodiment of the invention by means of a pair of parallel, horizontalrigid wires separated by a distance smaller than the head of a resilientsuction cup but larger than the neck of the cup. The head of the cup iscompressed to fit it between the pair of wires, which hold the neck andthe entire suction cup in place. A pair of transverse wires intersectingthe horizontal wires limit the horizontal movement of the cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suction cup holder.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of the suction cup holder attached to afixture holding a suction cup.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the suction cup holder attached to afixture holding a suction cup.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top view of the suction cup holder attached to afixture holding a suction cup.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a suction cup.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a top view of an additional embodiment.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The preferred embodiments of the invention described belowcomprise an attachment system as shown in the drawings comprising a foursided wire apparatus 1 having opposing parallel elongated supportmembers or wires, preferably made from cylindrical, rigid metal wire,but possibly also made from other materials such as plastic or wood.This apparatus has a bottom horizontal wire 2 which is generallyparallel to a top horizontal wire 4, and two parallel, transverse sidewires 6 and 8 which are perpendicular to the top wire 4 and bottom wire2; the four wires connect and form the rectangularly shaped attachmentsystem. This system attaches a suction cup 9 to a device or fixture 30.The suction cup is comprised of a neck 14, an engaging member 16comprised of a flexible concave surface for engaging flat surfaces andis molded onto one end of the neck 14, and a flexible disc-shapedengagement portion or capture button or head 12 molded onto the otherend of the neck 14. The diameter of the head 12 exceeds that of the neck14. The opening 10 in the apparatus 1 is smaller than the diameter ofthe head 12, but larger than that of neck 14 of the suction cup 9 whichmakes it easy to assemble. This opening 10 is large enough to enable thehead 12 when compressed or folded to pass through yet small enough toprevent the head 12 from slipping out after it is inserted anddecompressed. In the attachment system, the head 12 of the suction cup 9is compressed and pushed through the opening 10 in the apparatus 1. Oncethrough the opening 10, the head 12 expands and the neck 14 is retainedin the apparatus 1, securing the suction cup 9 to the fixture 30.

[0020] The invention is particularly advantageous for formed metal goodsor fixtures such as containers, baskets or shelves. The invention wouldapply to other materials as well, such as wood or plastic and the like.The invention could be used on virtually any size suction cup andfixture.

[0021] Variations in the foregoing description fall within theinvention. If the neck is large enough to engage the horizontal wires,or if sideways movement is not objectionable, the transverse wires maynot be necessary.

[0022] The two opposing wires, 32 and 34, also can be vertical as shownin FIG. 6. In this embodiment, each wire contains a horizontal, v-shapedbend 36 and the bends are directly across from each other. The pair ofwires could be at any angle, depending on the size and physicalcharacteristics of the suction cups. In another embodiment, shown inFIG. 7, the wires vary from being parallel, enabling them to acceptsuction cups having different neck sizes. Here the top wire 44 is notparallel to the bottom wire 42 while the right wire 46 and the left wire48 are parallel.

[0023] When the invention is used on wire form products, welding orbrazing are appropriate construction techniques. When plastic is used,the attaching device could be integrally formed by molding. It ispossible to use adhesives to construct the device when it is made frommetal, plastic or wood.

[0024] Although device 30 is shown as a container, it could be anydevice holdable by suction cups. Of course, the attaching device couldbe constructed to accompany any number of suction cups.

[0025] The invention has been described in detail with particularemphasis being placed on the preferred embodiments thereof, butvariations and modifications within the spirit and scope of theinvention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the inventionpertains.

We claim:
 1. A device for attaching a suction cup to a fixture, thesuction cup having a compressible head attached to a neck, the neckattached to an engagement member, said device comprising: a first pairof horizontal, generally parallel, rigid wires; a second pair of rigidwires transverse to and engaging said first pair of rigid wires definingan opening for receiving the head and for retaining the neck in saidopening; and a fastener arrangement for fastening said device to thefixture.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fixture and saiddevice are made from metal, and said fastener arrangement is at leastone weld of said device to the fixture.
 3. A device according to claim1, wherein said fastener arrangement is an adhesive.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the fixture and said device are made frommetal, and said fastener arrangement is at least one brazing of saiddevice to the fixture.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein thefixture and said device are made from metal, and said fastenerarrangement is at least one soldering of said device to the fixture. 6.A device according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of wires iscomprised of two wires which are parallel to each other and the secondpair of wires is comprised of two wires which are not parallel to eachother.
 7. A device for attaching a suction cup to a fixture, the suctioncup having a compressible head attached to a neck, the neck attached toan engagement member, said device comprising: a pair of rigid, generallyparallel, wires defining an opening for receiving the head and forretaining the neck in said opening; and a fastener arrangement forfastening said device to the fixture.
 8. A device according to claim 7,wherein said pair of wires is horizontal.
 9. A device according to claim7, wherein said pair of wires is vertical.
 10. A device for attaching asuction cup to a fixture, the suction cup having a compressible headattached to a neck, the neck attached to an engagement member, saiddevice comprising: a pair of rigid, generally parallel, wires whereineach wire of said pair of wires further includes opposing V-shaped bendsdefining an opening for receiving the head and for retaining the neck;and a fastener arrangement for fastening said device to the fixture. 11.An assembly comprising: a first pair of horizontal, generally parallel,rigid wires; a second pair of rigid wires transverse to and engagingsaid first pair of rigid wires defining an opening; a fastenerarrangement for fastening said assembly to a fixture; and a suction cuphaving a compressible head attached to a neck, the neck attached to anengagement member, said head being insertable into said opening and saidneck being retainable in said opening.
 12. An assembly according toclaim 11, wherein the fixture and said first pair of wires and saidsecond pair of wires are made from metal, and said fastener arrangementis at least one weld of said pairs of wires to the fixture.
 13. Anassembly according to claim 11, wherein said fastener arrangement is anadhesive.
 14. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the fixture andsaid first pair of wires and said second pair of wires are made frommetal, and said fastener arrangement is at least one brazing of saidpairs of wires to the fixture.
 15. An assembly according to claim 11,wherein the fixture and said first pair of wires and said second pair ofwires are made from metal, and said fastener arrangement is at least onesoldering of said pairs of wires to the fixture.
 16. An assemblyaccording to claim 11, wherein the first pair of wires is comprised oftwo wires which are parallel to each other and the second pair of wiresis comprised of two wires which are not parallel to each other.
 17. Anassembly comprising: a pair of rigid, generally parallel wires definingan opening; a fastener arrangement for fastening said assembly to afixture; and a suction cup having a compressible head attached to aneck, the neck attached to an engagement member, said head beinginsertable into said opening and said neck being retainable in saidopening.
 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said pair of wiresis horizontal.
 19. A device according to claim 17, wherein said pair ofwires is vertical.
 20. An assembly comprising: a pair of rigid,generally parallel wires wherein each wire of said pair of wires furtherincludes opposing V-shaped bends defining an opening; a fastenerarrangement for fastening said assembly to a fixture; and a suction cuphaving a compressible head attached to a neck, the neck attached to anengagement member, said head being insertable into said opening and saidneck being retainable in said opening.